Ribbon for typewriters and other machines



Sept? 1936- J. A. 1.. MOLLER 2,054,264

RIBBON FOR TYPFWRITERS AND OTHER MACHINES I Filed may 22, 1934 INVENTOBJrcoa AL. #0415? ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1936 PATENT OFFICE.

RIBBON FOR TYPEWRITERS AND OTHER MACHINES Jacob A. L. Miiller, Bye, N.Y.

Application May 22, 1934, Serial No. 127,015

4 Claims.

This invention relates to ribbons for type writers and similar machineswhere printing is done through an inked fabric and its object is toproducea ribbon which shall combine a number of desirablecharacteristics heretofore not found in any one type of ribbon.

Inked ribbons are used with various types of machines in which theribbon is'subjected to quite different conditions. For instance, in bill10 mg machines the type strikes a comparatively hard blow while intypewriters of the so-called "noiseless variety, the blow is relativelylight. An inked ribbon, therefore, whichwould be best suited for anoiseless typewriter would not 15 have the desirable characteristicsmaking it equally suitable for a billing machine or any machine in whichthe percussive action was relatively heavy.

.For use in a machine where pressure alone is go applied to the type orone in which the percussive action is relatively light, a very thinribbon gives a clear impression and such ribbons are well suited to thistype of machine. The ink capacity of such a ribbon as at present manu-25 factured is, however, rather limited. On the other hand, due to itsthinness such a ribbon would not wear well if used with a machine inwhich the percussive action were relatively heavy.

Heretofore, insofar as I am aware, it has been- 2) the custom to use aheavy ribbon for machines of the latter variety. Such heavy ribbons,however, have poor writing qualities although the ink capacity isgreater than that of a thin ribbon.

Another desirable characteristic in a ribbon t which shall be of generalutility is its capacity of being reversed. Therefore, the weave shouldbe the same on both sides. In many typewriters thetype do not strike theribbon centrally butstrike it nearenone edge and it is sometimescustomary to turn the ribbon over so that it can be used nearer theother edge. In some types of machines the process of turning the ribbonover may result in the other side of the ribbon being presented to thetype. A reversible ribbon is also more convenient from the standpoint ofthe arrangement of the spools. Where a ribbon is to be used withaparticular side facing the platen some special means are usuallyprovided to compel the assembly of the ribbon and 50 spools so that thedesired side, and that side only, faces as intended. I

A further desirable characteristic in a ribbon is ink-carrying capacitywhich shall be as large as possible, consistent with not too greatweight of fabric.

Another desirable characteristic in an inktransfer ribbon is that itshould be woven in such a manner that it shall have long life, or inother words, that the blow of the type should not disintegrate itsfibres after a comparatively 5 short use.

All of the desirable features above enumerated are combined to a highdegree in the ribbon of the present invention. I

These various advantageous features will be better understood from thefollowing detailed description and claims when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the fabriccomposing my ribbon;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a portion of the ribbon, and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified construction.

Broadly speaking, my invention consists of an inked ribbon, the fabricof which is so woven that a plurality of threads running in onedirection pass alternately over and under a like plurality ofcross-threads and in the preferred embodiment of my invention I haveshown two threads running in one direction passing alternately over andunder two similar cross-threads.

Referring to the drawing, the ribbon is indicated generally by thereference character I and may be made of any suitable fibre. The mannerof weaving, however, is distinctive and is clearly illustrated inFigures 1 and 2 which are considerably enlarged in order to clearly showthis characteristic. As shown in the latter figures, two threads,indicated at 2, pass alternately under and over two threads, indicatedat 4, running cross-wise of the threads 2.

Ribbons at present in use are made of fabric woven in a manner known asa plain weave where one thread passes alternately over and under across-thread.

In a fabric so woven the ink capacity is relatively small due in part tothe fact that the close interlacing of the threads results in acompression of the fibres at the juncture of each thread with across-thread. Furthermore, the threads are closely packed and there aremore bends to each unit of 'area. The life of such a ribbon isrelatively less than the life of the ribbon of my present invention dueto the tendency of the fibres to be cut at the point where-one threadpasses over or under a cross-thread.

In the ribbon of my present invention there is not the same tightness ofweave and there are 1 bends or kinks in any unit area. It results fromthis that there is a greater opportunity for the fibres of the thread tofluff out slightly before they pass under or over the cross-threads.This is clearly seen from Figure 2, where the diameter of the thread atthe point 5 is somewhat greater than the diameter at the point 6. Thisarrangement of the threads tends to increase the inkcarrying capacity toa considerable extent and allows more ink to be carried between thethreads as well as allowing the fibres of the thread itself to absorbmore ink. A ribbon woven as described above is also more flexible and,permits more ready bending of the ribbon about a type as the type strikeit, therefore giving greater manifolding abilities.

It will be noted that a ribbon woven in accordance with my invention isalike on both sides. Hence such a ribbon has the desirablecharacteristics of reversibility.

In the preferred form of my invention I have shown two threads runningin one direction passing alternately over and under two similarcrossthreads. Good results may be obtained by having a group of threethreads running in one direction passing alternately over and under agroup of three cross-threads, especially when very thin yam'is used. Itis not desirable, however, that there be too many threads of one kindskipping too many threads of another kind, otherwise the ribbon is tooloosely woven and there would be a tendency for the type to force apartthe individual threads or an edge of a type may miss an individualthread entirely and thereby cause poor writing.

There is another disadvantage in having too large a number of threads ina group. This disadvantage is due to the fact that the over-looseness ofweave tends-to give too great a cushioning effect and injures theclearness of the type impression. In the preferred form, where twothreads of the usual size are used in a group, the maximum desirableconditions are obtained.

In actual tests I have found that the ink-carrying capacity of a ribbonmade according to my invention as compared to a ribbon of plain weave ofsubstantially the same weight is in the proportion of approximately 38to 28.

Not only is a greater quantity of ink initially absorbed by the ribbonof my invention but the ink is given off more gradually and moreuniformly than in other ribbons with which I am familiar.Notwithstanding, however, the additional ink-carrying capacity of myimproved ribbon, it does not produce an unsatisfaotorily heavy "write atthe outset, whereas ordinary ribbon, thick enough to carry a likequantity of ink, will write so badly at the outset as to be impractical.

What I claim is: 1. An inked ribbon of a woven fabric, the body of whichis of uniform weave and in which a plurality of adjacent and contactingthreads not exceeding three running in one direction pass alternatelyover and under a like number of adjacent contacting cross-threads.

2. An inked ribbon consisting of awoven fabric having an equal number ofadjacent and contacting warp and filling threads on each side thereof,the threads of the warp passing in groups of two over and under a likegroup offilling threads.

3. An inked ribbon consisting of a woven fabric in which two adjacentcontacting threads running in one direction pass alternately over andunder two adjacent contacting cross-threads.

4. An inked ribbon consisting of a woven fabric having an equal numberof adjacent and contacting warp and filling threads on each sidethereof, the threads of the warp passing in groups of three over andunder a like group of filling threads.

[JACOB A. L. M6LLER.

